1. Police Investigate Motive Behind Shooting at Joel Osteen’s Megachurch
2. Police Investigate Shooting at Joel Osteen’s Megachurch.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Law enforcement agencies probe motives behind the shooting incident at one of the nation’s largest congregations
Multiple law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the motives behind a shooting incident that took place at Lakewood Church in Houston, led by renowned pastor Joel Osteen. The church, known for having one of the largest congregations in the country, was the target of the attack on Sunday. The shooter, identified as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno, was fatally shot by off-duty officers. Fortunately, no one else present at the church lost their life.
The incident unfolded at 1:55 p.m. on Sunday when Moreno entered the church wearing a trench coat and carrying a backpack. She was armed with an AR-15-style rifle, the origins of which are currently being investigated by law enforcement. Accompanied by a 7-year-old child, believed to be her biological son, Moreno proceeded to open fire in a hallway of the megachurch situated on Houston’s busy Southwest Freeway. Quick response from two off-duty officers resulted in the shooter being neutralized on the scene. Unfortunately, the child sustained a gunshot wound to the head and is currently in critical condition at Texas Children’s Hospital. The authorities have not yet determined who caused the child’s injury. Additionally, a 57-year-old man named Tom George Thomas was shot in the leg by Moreno, but has since been released from the hospital.
During the incident, Moreno claimed to have a bomb, prompting a thorough search of her vehicle and backpack. However, no explosives were found. As a precautionary measure, the entire church was searched by law enforcement, with assistance from the Houston Fire Department and hazmat units, as the shooter had also sprayed an unknown substance. Fortunately, the substances were determined to be harmless.
Overnight, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Moreno’s residence in Conroe, a city located approximately 40 miles north of Houston. The warrant requested the seizure of any ammunition, firearms, explosives, materials used to create explosives, weapons, cellphones, and computers. Described as a single-family dwelling, Moreno’s home is currently being examined for further evidence.
Christopher Hassig, commander of the Houston Police Department’s homicide unit, revealed that officers discovered “anti-semitic writings” belonging to Moreno. Additionally, the rifle used by the shooter had a sticker that read “Palestine.” Authorities believe that Moreno had been involved in a domestic dispute with her ex-husband and his Jewish relatives. Inside Moreno’s backpack, a .22 caliber rifle was also found, which she had brought into the church.
While it is still too early to establish a definitive motive, law enforcement has revealed that Moreno has a history of mental health issues. Records from the Harris County court indicate her involvement in criminal activities dating back to 2005. However, the exact means by which she obtained the two firearms remains unclear. It has been confirmed, though, that the gun used at the church was legally purchased in December 2023.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo stated on Monday that she has requested the investigation to explore whether the incident should be classified as a hate crime. The shooter entered the church just minutes before the start of the 2 p.m. Spanish-language service.
During a press conference on Sunday, Houston Mayor John Whitmire expressed his sadness over the tragedy and thanked first responders for their swift response. He assured the community that their safety remains a top priority.
Lakewood Church, situated approximately 6 miles outside downtown Houston, occupies the former arena of the Houston Rockets. This nondenominational, evangelical Christian church attracts a large number of attendees from across the country, both in person and through online platforms.
Pastor Joel Osteen, renowned for his best-selling books and as a televangelist, expressed his devastation and confusion during the Sunday press conference. In a subsequent email to the Lakewood Church and Iglesia Family, Osteen extended his gratitude to the first responders for their rapid action and encouraged the community to remain steadfast in their faith.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in contact with Mayor Whitmire, offered state resources, including officers from the Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers, to assist in the aftermath of the tragic shooting.
Places of worship have unfortunately been targeted in several mass shootings in recent years, such as the November 2017 shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, where 26 people were killed and 20 others wounded. Another incident took place in December 2019 at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, resulting in the deaths of two individuals before a church member neutralized the shooter within seconds. In response to the Sutherland Springs shooting, Texas passed a law allowing licensed handgun owners to carry firearms in places of worship. The White Settlement church formed a volunteer security team following the enactment of this legislation.
The Sutherland Springs shooting occurred just months before a school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas. In its aftermath, Governor Abbott initiated discussions to address the issue of gun violence. While some proposed solutions included universal background checks and policies to prevent individuals who pose an immediate danger from accessing guns, lawmakers have primarily focused on enhancing school security and increasing mental health services. Despite the filing of numerous gun control bills in the following year, most of them failed to progress, including a proposal to raise the minimum age for purchasing a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21.
This article was originally published by The Texas Tribune and can be found at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/11/shooter-megachurch-joel-osteen-houston/. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan newsroom supported by its members, dedicated to informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. For more information, visit texastribune.org.
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– Police investigate motive behind shooting at Joel Osteen’s megachurch
– Police investigate motive behind shooting at Joel Osteen’s church.
